About this experience
Uncover the beautiful Mayan towns around Lake Atitlan, the most magnificent spectacle ever saw. With indigenousn women in multicolored outfits, fishermen in rustic crafts and the beauty of the three surrounding volcanos: San Pedro, Toliman & Atitlan.
Santiago Atitlan, the town more visited for their beautiful Guipil (blouse) and its old catholic church with Mayan and Spanish culture combination. To finalize the last town to visit is
San Juan la Laguna, a unique town with cooperatives of natural dyes, painting's art and medicinal plants.
At a glance
- Duration: 12 hr–14 hr
Plan your experience
Set aside 12 hr–14 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.
Before you go
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
What is included
- Professional local guide
- Round trip shared transportation (Antigua-Panajachel-Antigual)
- Shared Boat transportation and life jackets
- Local taxes
Not included
- Personal expenses
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Tuk Tuk (local small taxi) - Optional Q50.00 per person
Itinerary and highlights
Here is where the tour starts.
At your arrival you will have around 45mins to have breakfast (Not included). After that, you walk to the dock to take the boat.
Panajachel, also known as "Pana", is a charming city located on the shore of Lake Atitlan. Is the most important center of the area, reason why it concentrates the majority of hotels, restaurants, nightlife, entertainment centers and shops. Ideal for shopping for handicrafts and contributing to local tourism.
First town to visit.
San Juan la Laguna, a quaint town onf the west shore of the lake, there are serveral cooperatives: from beekeepers, coffee growers to backstrap loom weavers, who work using natural dyes. Using ancestral techniques, they extract dyes from tree bark, vegetables, coconut shells and so on to paint of colors their products.
Second town to visit
San Pedro la Laguna, spreading onto a peninsula at the base of the volcano of the same name. It is as famous as Panajachel, it is the favorite place of many foreign tourists, who are fascinated by the tranquility of the environment.
Third town to visit:
Santiago Atitlan it is a place with a lot of natural beauty and color, due the handicrafts that are made there as well as for the costume of its inhabitants. The residents wear their regional costume and the women wear colorful huipiles (blouses) woven in white cotton with geometric designs and small birds. Multicolored embroidered at the waist, and the cortes (skirts) consist of a piece of cloth wrapped around the waist; A ribbon called tocoyal is also used, which is approximately 20 meters long and is wrapped around the head.
In this beautiful town is the Church of Santiago Apóstol, it was built in 1547. It is one of the oldest churches in Guatemala and in it you can appreciate the syncretism especially in the main altarpiece. There is also a Mayan idol called "Maximón" of unknown origin.
Meeting and pickup information
- If you are staying outside Antigua and you are coming by Uber or Taxi from your place to Antigua please be in front of Cafe Condesa at the Main Square of Antigua Guatemala (5a Avenida Norte #4). The driver will pick you up there around 05:30-05:50am. Inform us that you will meet the driver there.
- - We can pick up in any centrally located Antigua Hotels, AirBnB and family homestays. - We don't pick up in the surrounding villages such as San Pedro las Huertas, San Juan del Obispo, Santa Ana, El Hato, San Cristobal el Alto, San Cristobal el Bajo, San Bartolomé Becerra. - Note that the tour departs from Antigua Guatemala, if you are staying in Guatemala City and you want to join the tour we can coordinate to pick you up by private transportation from Guatemala and drive you to Antigua to catch our bus. (Additional cost) You are purchasing a shared service, it means several people will join the tour. The van will experience some delays caused by travellers that are not ready in time, or gave a wrong address. Please be Patient.
Languages and tickets
- English — Guide
- Spanish — Guide
- Mobile Only
Tour operator
- Voyageur Tours
Meeting points and locations
Accessibility and practical details
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking (the meals aren't included but if you have any special requirement we can help you to choose a good restaurant according to your needs)
- The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
- IMPORTANT: If do the weather conditions there is no access to any of the towns listed in the tour, we will suggest you other town options to visit and keep the three towns in your tour
- Return time to Antigua around 18:30-19:00hrs. All will depend on traffic and the group.
- If you want to enjoy more time the lake and want to spend a night there, we can gladly coordinate the transportation back to Antigua next day without extra cost. PLEASE let us know when you book that you need to return next day. You can choose the shared transportation leaving from Panajachel at 12:00pm or 16hrs. - ACCOMMODATION IS ON YOUR OWN. -
- The duration of the tour is approximately 14hrs, this tour is ideal if you don't have much time to visit the country.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Questions about this experience
How long is this experience?
What are the pickup arrangements?
- We don't pick up in the surrounding villages such as San Pedro las Huertas, San Juan del Obispo, Santa Ana, El Hato, San Cristobal el Alto, San Cristobal el Bajo, San Bartolomé Becerra.
- Note that the tour departs from Antigua Guatemala, if you are staying in Guatemala City and you want to join the tour we can coordinate to pick you up by private transportation from Guatemala and drive you to Antigua to catch our bus. (Additional cost)
You are purchasing a shared service, it means several people will join the tour. The van will experience some delays caused by travellers that are not ready in time, or gave a wrong address. Please be Patient.
Which guide languages are listed?
What ticket format is listed?
What ticket age bands are listed?
What is the cancellation policy?
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